Universal holder for the concomitant storage of  toothbrushes and razors

ABSTRACT

A sanitary holder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushes comprising a plate having a single planar body with an outer edge and inner center, said outer edge defining at least one aperture providing access to at least one, single combination razor and toothbrush storing recess.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for storing personalhygiene items primarily safety razors and toothbrushes in a bathroomenvironment. More particularly, the present invention relates to bothfree-standing and wall-mounted holders, for safety razors andtoothbrushes.

2. Prior Art

Toothbrushes and razors are some of the most common personal hygienetools used by men and women today. As a result their structure is wellknow to all. Safety razors comprise a razor cartridge mounted on ahandle. Toothbrushes comprise a tooth brush head mounted on a handle.

However, not all razors are the same. Not all toothbrushes are the same.A quick survey of the razor and toothbrushes offered to consumers,quickly establishes that razors and toothbrushes differ among themselvesin many ways and comprise many structural variations. The shape,appearance and functional structure of razor cartridges as well as theshape and dimensions of the razor handle differ from razor to razor.Likewise, the shape, appearance and functional structure of tooth brushheads, as well as the shape and dimensions of tooth brush handles,particularly those that hold batteries, or are shaped in variouscharacters, differ from toothbrush to toothbrush.

These structural variations in both razors and toothbrushes have made itvery difficult to create a universal holder capable of storingtoothbrushes of all shapes and sizes, or razors of all shapes and sizes.Even more importantly, these structural variations in both razors andtoothbrushes has made it very difficult to create a single universalholder that is capable of storing toothbrushes of all shapes and sizesand razors of all shapes and sizes, simultaneously in one holder.

As a result of these variations and the lack of a single universalholder able to accommodate them, it is not unusual when walking into abathroom, whether residential or in a hotel room, to find toothbrushesand razors laying on their sides, by the edge of a sink, on a bathroomvanity, in a pool of effluent. Notwithstanding the presence of some sortof tooth brush holder in the home. Between the mess and clutter thatexist as a result of placing toothbrushes and razors by the side of thesink and allowing the effluent to deposit around them, and the knowledgethat bacteria abound in the bathroom environment, such a mess andclutter are particularly distasteful and present a real problem thatneeds to be addressed both at the residential and at the commercialhospitality levels. Accordingly, a real need exists for a toothbrush andrazor holder capable of addressing these problems, which areparticularly acute at the commercial hospitality levels; morespecifically in hotes.

Toothbrush holders abound. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,576,650;U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,457; U.S. Pat. No. 6,622,978; U.S. Pat. No.6,918,495 B1; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2010/0051565A1;U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2007/0262035A1; U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. US 2010/0000951A1; U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. US 2009/0283651A1; U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. US 2009/0262606 A1 and International Application WO 2008/098107 A2,all of which are incorporated by reference, as if more fully set forthherein.

Likewise there are quite a few razor holders. See for example, EuropeanPatent Application EP 1 903 903 B1 and U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2008/0296244 A1, all of which are incorporated byreference, as if more fully set forth herein.

However, there is no one, single, universal holder able to accept, holdand store both toothbrushes and razors, all at the same time, in oneconvenient place. Accordingly, there is still a need of a single,universal holder able to accept and simultaneously hold and store bothtoothbrushes and razors all in one convenient place while concomitantlyreducing the risk of contamination of such razors and toothbrushes withgerms and bacteria commonly found in effluents, bathroom sinks andbathroom vanities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide asingle, unitary holder for the simultaneous storage of toothbrushes andrazors.

It is a further object of the present invention to reduce the mess andclutter created by the haphazard storage of toothbrushes and razors onthe side of bathroom sinks and on top of bathroom vanities.

It is still another object of the present invention to prevent thecontamination of toothbrushes and razors with germs and bacteriacommonly found in toothbrush and razor effluents and on bathroom sinksand vanities.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide for asingle, unitary, combination razor/toothbrush holder that permits thequick air drying of toothbrushes and razors.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a single,unitary holder for the simultaneous storage of toothbrushes and razors,which is disposable and easily replaceable.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention is auniversal holder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushescomprising a base and a plate mounted on said base. The plate comprisesa single planar body having an inner center, an outer edge, and at leastone aperture providing access to a combination razor/toothbrush storingrecess. The combination razor/toothbrush storing recess extends andcurves inwardly from the outer edge of the planar body, toward the innercenter of the planar body. It has a first outer section and a secondinner section. The first outer section is provided with means forreceiving, docking and storing a razor, while the second inner sectionis provided with means for receiving, docking and storing a toothbrush.

The means for receiving, docking and storing the razor, of the firstouter section, of the combination razor/toothbrush storing recesscomprises the aperture, an intermittent groove running longitudinallyalong, adjacent and parallel to, the outer edge of the single planarbody of the plate, juxtaposed to and contiguous with the aperture, suchthat the groove runs on either side of, is immediately adjacent to, andcollinear with the aperture. The groove has an inner wall and an outerwall. The outer wall of the groove forms a flange which optionally maybe curved and stepped down in height in the area adjacent to theaperture, and shaped and dimensioned such that when the razor isinserted into and placed in line with the aperture, it can be depositedand docked within the groove. The curved stepped down outer wall of thegroove, on either side of the aperture permits the head of the razor totilt forward or backward, depending on how the razor has been placedtherein, such that the handle of the razor is hanging almost straightdown away from and perpendicular to the plate.

The means for receiving, docking and storing a toothbrush, in the secondinner section, of the combination razor/toothbrush storing recesscomprises a u-shaped, toothbrush collar located adjacent to the innercenter of the single planar body of the plate. The toothbrush collar iscommunicatingly connected to the aperture leading into the combinationrazor/toothbrush storing recess, with an elongated channel extendinginwardly from the aperture, towards the inner center of the singleplanar body, of the plate. The toothbrush collar has an arcuate areasufficiently dimensioned to fit around and encircle the neck of anytoothbrush slid into the recess, through the aperture, along thechannel, and into the toothbrush collar. Consequently, when thetoothbrush is left within the collar, it encircles and supports the neckof the toothbrush in such a way, that the head of the toothbrush extendsperpendicularly above the plate and the handle of the toothbrush extendsdownwardly, perpendicularly below the plate.

These and other objects, advantages, features, and characteristics ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description of apreferred embodiment, considered along with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It is believed that the present invention will be better understood fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which the numerals represent identicalelements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a three dimensional perspective of one embodiment of theinventive universal holder for the concomitant storage of razors andtoothbrushes;

FIG. 2 is a three dimensional perspective of the embodiment of theuniversal holder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushesof FIG. 1, at slightly different angle and under different lighting;

FIG. 3 is a is a three dimensional perspective of another embodiment ofthe universal holder for the concomitant storage of razors andtoothbrushes, showing a docked razor;

FIGS. 4-5 are three dimensional top views of the plate of the inventiveholder, of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a three dimensional exploded view of the inventive universalholder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushes of FIG. 3,showing its base, shaft and plate components;

FIG. 7 is a three dimensional, front view of the inventive universalholder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushes of FIGS.3-6 showing a docked razor;

FIG. 8 is a three dimensional, side perspective of the inventiveuniversal holder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushesof FIGS. 3-7 showing a docked razor;

FIG. 9 is a three dimensional, partial top view of another embodiment ofthe inventive universal holder for the concomitant storage of razors andtoothbrushes;

FIG. 10 is a three dimensional perspective showing a free standingversion of the inventive universal holder for the concomitant storage ofrazors and toothbrushes, capable of rotating about its axis; and

FIGS. 11-14 are three dimensional perspectives of alternate embodimentsof various lock and key fastening mechanisms capable of being used tosecure the base to the plate of the inventive universal holder for theconcomitant storage of razors and toothbrushes.

LIST OF ELEMENTS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE IDENTIFYING NUMERALS NO ELEMENT 10Universal holder for the concomitant storage of razors and toothbrushes20 Base 22 Bracket 24 Base Plate 26 Anchoring aperture 27 Protrusion 28Base Male or female component 30 Shaft 32 Shaft male or female component40 Plate 42 Single planar body 42A Outer edge 42B Inner center 50Aperture 60 Combination razor/toothbrush storing recess 62 First outersection 64 Second inner section 66 Means for receiving, docking, andstoring the razor 68 Means for receiving, docking and storing thetoothbrush 70 Intermittent groove 72 Outer wall 74 Inner wall 76 flange80 U-shaped tooth brush collar 82 Elongated channel 84 Arcuate area

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring more specifically to FIGS. 1-3 and FIG. 10, they generallydepict the universal holder for the concomitant storage of razors andtoothbrushes in accordance with the present invention at 10 (hereinafterthe “holder 10”). As shown in FIG. 10 the holder 10 can befree-standing, or as shown in FIGS. 1-2 it can be wall-mounted. Itcomprises a base 20, a shaft 30 connected to and extending from saidbase 20, and a plate 40 fixedly mounted on said shaft 30.

Whether the holder 10 is free-standing or wall-mounted, the shaft 30 iseither fixedly or detachably connected to the base 20, or fixedly ordetachably connected to the plate 40. As a result, the entire holder 10can be fabricated or molded in individual components and then assembledto form it. Alternatively, the base 20 and the shaft 30 can be molded orfabricated as one unitary piece upon which the plate 40 can be mounted.Particularly if, as shown in FIG. 10, the plate 40 is to spin around theshaft 30 in carousel style movement to provide more direct access to allshavers and razors docked thereon. Or, alternatively the shaft 30 andthe plate 40 could be molded or fabricated as one unitary piece, andthereafter mounted on the base 20. Particularly, if as shown in FIGS. 1and 2, the holder 10 is to be mounted on the wall, as such embodimentprovides for a much easier mounting. In the preferred embodiments thecombination base and shaft unit, or the combination shaft and plateunits are fabricated as one piece for added strength and reducedmanufacturing costs.

If the holder 10 is wall-mounted as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, then thebase 20 is used to mount the holder 10 on the wall. Such mounting can bedone in any number of ways. As is shown in FIG. 11, the base 20 cancomprise a bracket 22 and a base plate 24. The bracket 22 can be mountedon the wall via any commonly available mounting means such as screws,nails, velcro, and double sided tape, depending on the surface of thewall. The base plate 24 in turn, can be mounted on the bracket 22 bysimply slipping it over the edges of the bracket as shown in FIG. 11.

Alternatively the wall mounted base 20 can comprise just the base plate24, which can be mounted on the wall either by gluing it on the wallusing any of the modern adhesives currently, or in the future, availableon the market, as for example EPOXY, or by attaching it to the wallusing lever actuated suction cups, as shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 6 shows that in order to facilitate the fixed but detachablemounting of the shaft 30 on the base 20, said base 20 is provided withan anchoring aperture 26. The anchoring aperture 26, as can be seen fromFIG. 6, could be receding into the base 20, such that it is flush withthe surface, opposite the wall-mounting surface of said base 20.Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 11-14, the base surface, opposite itswall-mounting surface is provided with a protrusion 27, extendingoutwardly away from the base 20. The protrusion 27, in turn has apartial bore that provides a semi-open cavity with an opening that isflush with the outer surface of the partially bored protrusion 27 toform an anchoring aperture 26.

The anchoring aperture 26 in the base 20 and the shaft 30 are eachprovided with complimentary male and female components of fasteningmechanisms, respectively. See for example FIGS. 6 and 12. Suchcomplimentary male and female components form lock and key fasteningmechanisms that allow the shaft 30 and the base 20 to interconnect andstay in place in a lock and key fashion. Various means of such lock andkey fastening mechanisms are depicted in FIG. 6, as well as in FIGS.11-14.

In another embodiment that facilitates the fixed but detachable mountingof the shaft 30 on the base 20, the protrusion 27 of the base 20contains no cavity and no anchoring aperture. Instead it is the shaft 30that is provided with a partial bore that forms a semi-open cavity withan opening that is flush with the outer surface of the partially boredshaft 30. Such semi-open cavity acts as the anchoring aperture 26 forthe insertion therein, of the protrusion 27 of the base 20.

In yet another embodiment the means for fastening the plate to the basedoes not comprise male and female components such as an aperture and ashaft. Rather they comprise male and female components such as thosedepicted in FIG. 13 which simply nest within one another.

The dimensions of the shaft 30 can vary greatly. In some embodiments, asis shown in FIG. 10, where the shaft has considerable length, it isclearly visible that it is a shaft and that it functions as a shaft. Inother embodiments, as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the shaft 30 is so shortthat it is thoroughly subsumed by the fastening mechanism imparting theimpression that the plate 40 is simply locked on the base 20 withnothing more than the fastening mechanism. In other words, the fasteningmechanism in essence becomes the supporting shaft.

While particular combinations of the base 20, shaft 30 and plate 40 andcorresponding locking mechanisms have been illustrated and describedherein above, they are provided by way of illustration only, and therecitation of such combinations should not be construed to be allinclusive or exhaustive. Since certain changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of these combinations, it is intended that allmatter contained in the description of such combinations, or shown inthe accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in aliteral sense. Practitioners of the art will realize that theembodiments and combinations described and depicted in the figures canbe altered without departing from the scope of these combinations andthat the illustrations contained herein are singular examples of amultitude of possible such combinations.

As was set forth above, the plate 40 is mounted on the shaft 30 when theshaft 30 is clear and visible, as is shown in FIG. 10. Or, the plate 40is detachably mounted on the base 20, via the fastening mechanism as isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, which essentially functions as the shaft 30.

The plate 40 comprises a single planar body 42 having an outer edge 42Aand inner center 42B. In one embodiment, the outer edge 42A has at leastone aperture 50 providing access to a combination razor/toothbrushstoring recess 60.

The combination razor/toothbrush storing recess 60 curves away from theouter edge 42A and extends inwardly, along the plane of the body 42,toward the inner center 42B of the single planar body 42 of the plate40. It comprises a first outer section 62 and a second inner section 64.The first outer section 62 is provided with means for receiving, dockingand storing a razor 66. The second inner section 64 is provided withmeans for receiving, docking and storing a toothbrush 68.

The means for receiving, docking and storing the razor 66, in the firstouter section 62 of the combination razor/toothbrush storing recess 60,comprises an intermittent groove 70, running longitudinally along,adjacent and parallel to, the outer edge 42A of the single, planar body42. Sections of the intermittent groove 70 are juxtaposed to andcontiguous with the aperture 50, such that sections of the intermittentgroove 70 run on either side of, are immediately adjacent to andcollinear with the aperture 50. The intermittent groove 70 has an innerwall 74 and an outer wall 72. The outer wall 72 of the groove forms aflange 76 which optionally may be curved and stepped down in height inthe area adjacent to the aperture 50, and shaped and dimensioned suchthat when the razor is inserted into the combination razor/toothbrushstoring recess 60 via the aperture 50, it is deposited and docked withinthe groove 70. The curved stepped down outer wall 72 on either side ofthe aperture 50 permits the head of the razor to tilt either forward orbackward, depending on how it is deposited, such that the stem of therazor is hanging almost straight down away from and perpendicular to theplate 40. Thereby, the razor deposited and docked within the groove 70in the first outer section 62 can be stored, and if wet, can be airdried without contamination, in a neat and orderly fashion.

The means for receiving, docking and storing a toothbrush 68, of thesecond inner section 64 of the combination razor/toothbrush recess 60,comprises a u-shaped, toothbrush-support collar 80, communicatinglyconnected to the aperture 50 with an elongated channel 82, extendinginwardly from the aperture 50 towards the toothbrush-support collar 80.The toothbrush-support collar 80 has an arcuate area 84 sufficientlydimensioned to fit around and encircle the neck of any toothbrush slidinto the recess 60 through the aperture 50 and along the channel 82.Thus, when the toothbrush is left within the toothbrush-support collar80, such collar encircles and supports the neck of the toothbrush andallows the head of the toothbrush to extend perpendicularly above theplate 40, and the stem of the toothbrush to extend downwardly,perpendicularly below the plate 40. Thereby, the toothbrush depositedand docked within the toothbrush collar 80 in the second inner sectioncan be stored, and if wet can be air dried without contamination, in aneat and orderly fashion.

Optionally, the tooth-brush support collar 80 can be provided with anupwardly extending flange to provide rigidity and additional support forthe head of the toothbrush and keep the toothbrush head above theeffluent from the toothbrush that might accumulate and pool around theneck of the toothbrush below the head, on the plate surface.

The channel 82 connecting the aperture 50 and providing access to thetoothbrush-support collar 80 therefrom, could be straight or it could bebent at any angle, as for example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 at a rightangle, to permit the docking of the toothbrush at any location on theplate. Further, it could be of sufficient length that a razor and atoothbrush can be stored within the recess at the same time.

Finally the plate can be provided with wells and ridges or ribs topermit for the pooling of any and all effluents from the razor and thetoothbrush docked within the combination razor/toothbrush recess.

In another embodiment of the holder 10, the plate 40 comprises all ofthe elements of the embodiment set forth herein above, except thatinstead of comprising just one aperture 50 providing access to just onecombination razor/toothbrush storing recess 60, it comprises more thanone aperture 50 and more than one corresponding combinationrazor/toothbrush storing recess 60.

In yet another embodiment of the holder 10, the plate 40 comprises allof the elements of the embodiments set forth herein above, except thatinstead of comprising just one aperture 50 providing access to just onecombination razor/toothbrush storing recess 60, it comprises amultiplicity of apertures 50 and an equivalent amount of correspondingcombination razor/toothbrush storing recesses 60.

One application of the holder 10 is in the hospitality industry for usein hotel rooms. When the patron leaves the premises, the plate 40 caneasily be detached and removed from the base 20 on the wall that it wasmounted on and can be discarded. If the patron does not remove the plate40 before he or she leaves, then a cleaning attendant can remove thesame and reinstall another plate from another hermetically sealedcontainer or enclosure to create a new and bacteria-free toothbrush/razor holder. A note attached to the new holder can inform thenext patron entering the room that the holder is clean and bacteriafree. This operation, together with the unique ability of the holder tosimultaneously store both a razor and a toothbrush thereon, will enhancethe overall amenities of the establishments as to its safety andcleanliness.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed in detail herein, they are provided by way of illustrationonly and should not be construed to limit the invention. Since certainchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the presentinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription, or shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted asillustrative and not in a literal sense. Practitioners of the art willrealize that the sequence of steps and the embodiments depicted in thefigures can be altered without departing from the scope of the presentinvention and that the illustrations contained herein are singularexamples of a multitude of possible depictions of the present invention.

1. A sanitary holder for the concomitant storage of razors andtoothbrushes.
 2. A sanitary holder for the concomitant storage of razorsand toothbrushes comprising a plate having a single planar body with anouter edge and inner center, said outer edge defining at least oneaperture providing access to at least one, single combination razor andtoothbrush storing recess.
 3. The sanitary holder according to claim 2,wherein said at least one, single combination razor and toothbrushstoring recess further comprises a first outer section and a secondinner section, said first outer section being provided with means forreceiving, docking and storing a razor said second inner section beingprovided with means for receiving, docking and storing a toothbrush. 4.The sanitary holder according to claim 3, wherein said at least one,single combination razor and toothbrush storing recess curves away fromsaid outer edge and extends inwardly, along the plane of said singleplanar body, toward said the inner center of said single planar body ofsaid plate.
 5. The sanitary holder according to claim 4, wherein saidone, single combination razor and toothbrush storing recess furthercomprises a first outer section and a second inner section, said firstouter section being provided with means for receiving, docking andstoring a razor said second inner section being provided with means forreceiving, docking and storing a toothbrush.